fandomsecrets | [ SECRET POST #2779 ]

⌈ Secret Post #2779 ⌋

Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.

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12. http://i.imgur.com/lbWTt5W.png

To be fair, it's not like the popular concept of fandom is that far off the mark in a lot of cases. Normal, well-adjusted fans do exist but there are just as many hopelessly socially awkward nerds out there in fandom.

Also well-adjusted people make less interesting characters.

(no subject)

herpymcderp - 2014-08-12 23:44 (UTC) - Expand

Exactly. I've met fellow fans IRL and some were well-adjusted, but with others it was... obvious they didn't have social lives outside the internet for a reason. Let's put it that way.

Probably because well adjusted fanfic writers don't make for an interesting novel. Most of the ones I know personally aren't hardcore compared to the heroine of that book. They have families, fulfilling jobs/social lives and lots of other interests beyond fandom. (FWIW, they're also older than the heroine.) Great for IRL, but maybe a little dull when you're trying to come up with a conflict for your book.

PICK

TWO

i hated this book

Any particular reason?

(Anonymous) - 2014-08-13 02:03 (UTC) - Expand

(Anonymous) - 2014-08-22 19:23 (UTC) - Expand

I haven't read the book but I'm reminded of a web series a friend of mine liked that was supposed to be about a person in fandom. I tried watching it but you could tell she didn't have a good grasp of the terminology because it sounded so unnatural even when she didn't say things completely wrong. My friend liked it because she just barely knows enough about fandom in general to get the references.

Funny, I was the exact opposite. My main complain was that the main character was having a way too easy time of it at university. As a socially awkward geek it seemed unbelievable to me how she so easily made friends at uni without actively trying. And all of them non-geeks, too. Very wish fulfillment-y. I even wondered if the author had a secret fandom persona or something.

I felt the same way. She definitely had it so very easy. And it particularly irritated me how persistent the male romantic interest was. She'd be rude to him, or ignore him, or say something mean, and he just kept showing interest and being kind and helping her.

I have yet to meet a guy who gives a geek girl a second or third or more chance, after being blown off either by mistake or intent. (And yes, I'm speaking from experience. I only ever had one chance with each guy who showed interest, and I always blew it--by mistake, too.)

I even wondered if the author had a secret fandom persona or something.

Not a secret. Her tumblr is fandom heavy, and she used to be an HP fic author.

(Anonymous) - 2014-08-13 01:03 (UTC) - Expand

iggy - 2014-08-13 01:23 (UTC) - Expand

It was both for me. She wasn't well adjusted and the turning fanfic in for homework part was so cringe-worthy, it was unbelievable. I agree she had way too easy of a time in school. She was a loner jerk and actively didn't want to make friends too, but she did.

(Anonymous) - 2014-08-13 02:09 (UTC) - Expand

weaselbee - 2014-08-13 02:17 (UTC) - Expand

Yeah, this book got me where I live in a lot of places (the scariness of going to university when you don't have any experience being on your own, the dealing with a family member's mental illness, etc) so in a wish-fulfillment way, it was nice to see Cath getting a bunch of friends and a sweet boyfriend without even really trying. But at the same time, it wasn't very realistic. (I'm a lot like Cath IRL, and when I first got to university, it was . . . not like that. Though at least I never handed fanfic in for an assignment.)

How about Ben Wyatt on Parks & Rec?

Are there any?

I'm sure you mean to be witty and flip, but since so many comments have already addressed this very subject, it comes off as being a little late to the party.

(Anonymous) - 2014-08-13 02:39 (UTC) - Expand

She is a fan. Have you seen her tumblr? She's a fangirl through and through.

What was the HP fan like though?

Edited 2014-08-13 01:23 (UTC)

Speaking as a writer of fanfic (particularly HP fanfic), most people that participate in fandom to any great degree do it because their real lives are unfulfilling in some way. Yes, myself included.

Those fans that are "normal" and well-adjusted aren't what I would call fangirls or fanboys, just consumers of various media.

And speaking as a writer of fanfic, I tend to do it as a hobby. I have a full-time job and a husband, but I still consider myself a fangirl. And I wouldn't say that my life is unfulfilling.

(Anonymous) - 2014-08-13 02:12 (UTC) - Expand

(Anonymous) - 2014-08-13 09:46 (UTC) - Expand

(Anonymous) - 2014-08-13 15:28 (UTC) - Expand

How is this book other than that? I've kind of automatically bristled at this author's books ever since I tried to read Eleanor and Park and then noped out (because lol if I'm going to be reading a book with an interracial romance I'd rather it not be fetishy, thanks) but I feel like I should give her another chance, maybe? idk. Maybe not.

(Anonymous) - 2014-08-13 02:11 (UTC) - Expand

But I'm pretty sure that the author is a fan herself? I thought the fanfic 'excerpts' were just parts of her HP fanfic that she had written?

I wasn't a big fan of the book though. After the internet and Tumblr, the whole 'socially awkward fanfic writer' isn't exactly a new thing, and definitely isn't intriguing. Especially with a weird romance crammed in there.

Oh wow, this just reminded me of the Gamer Girl (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2850535-gamer-girl) book. It gave me so much second-hand embarrassment. It's also terribly written and I gave up halfway through.

I think you're being a bit touchy about it. If she was really well adjusted, that wouldn't have made a very interesting story. It was great to actually see fandom represented in a book.

Actually, as someone who used fandom to deal with a childhood riddled with depression and bullying, it struck really true to me.

I do feel it was wish fulfillment or idealized in some ways, but most books are, especially YA.